I’ve had a long history of changing jobs, and even careers, prior to my current position. Before coming to Australia in 1999, I was an advertising copywriter and small business owner. Migrating gave me the excellent opportunity to pursue a different professional path – one that was more immediately rewarding because it aligned with my personal values and beliefs.

When my youngest child reached pre-school age, I did a distance education course (Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education). At the same time, I started doing community volunteer work. The exposure and growing experience landed me a succession of highly-fulfilling, project-based work in community services (migrant settlement services, youth work, perinatal work, volunteer coordination). I realized then that working with the community was the way for me to go.

My community development experience somehow led to my first job in the aged and disability sector – establishing new social day programs for frail aged people from CALD (Culturally And Linguistically Diverse) backgrounds. It was very fulfilling, as always. At the same time, it gave me a good glimpse of the complexities in providing HACC (Home and Community Care) services on the ground.

My current role in sector development enables me to distil all past learnings and use them to help enhance service provision at a regional level. It has also strengthened my belief in the not-for-profit sector as a leader in innovation. I hope to stay in this field for a long time to come.